Ultimate Warrior- where did it all go wrong?

[johnpricesuperstar]

I am a huge warrior fan. I have been watching a lot of old WWF DVDs and am thinking about the Ultimate Warrior- the man who was chosen to lead the new generation in 1990.

What went wrong?
Was his 1992 run a failure (fights Shango, Savage then disapears) ?

Could he have saved the WWF from the dark ages 1992-1996?

How do you view his "Comeback" a few years ago with the silver hair in Italy?

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

It went wrong the moment he started thinking of himself as bigger than he was. He was meant as a replacement Hulk Hogan. Problem is, popular as he was, he was never in Hogan's strata, but he got the ego that goes along with that echelon anyways. That's what killed him dead.

[Citizen Zero]

Yeah, his ego-to-talent ratio is what did him in in the end.

Well that and being a thoroughly repulsive person in real life.

[The only Buzz Sawyer mark ever]

Didn't he hold up Vinnie Mac for a massive fee (I want to say $1m but I'm probably wrong) ahead of some massive match or something? I'm guessing he was on the outs after that. That and he had less moves than Cena.

[Trent Valentine]

Compared to his previous runs, his Run in 1996 was a flop. He was so out of place during the New Generation era with guys like Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, Marc Mero, Mankind and others bursting into the big picture. I always believed that Vince brought Warrior back in 96 because he was desperate to bring some old school fans back to the program due to WWF being at its worst. He didn't do much but have pointless feuds with Goldust and Jerry Lawler who at this point focused more on commentary than Wrestling. Everything else after that was just embarrassing.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

Jan 3, 2011 8:32:15 GMT -5 Trent Valentine said:

Compared to his previous runs, his Run in 1996 was a flop. He was so out of place during the New Generation era with guys like Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, Marc Mero, Mankind and others bursting into the big picture. I always believed that Vince brought Warrior back in 96 because he was desperate to bring some old school fans back to the program due to WWF being at its worst. He didn't do much but have pointless feuds with Goldust and Jerry Lawler who at this point focused more on commentary than Wrestling. Everything else after that was just embarrassing.

I don't think it was "desperate for old school fans" so much as it was "throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks". Vince had to have been in real desperation mode around 96, and if, by some chance, Warrior had pulled them out of the slump, so much the better. But, unfortunately, a combination of bad writing and Warrior being....well, being Warrior, pretty much killed it dead.

[johnnyk9]

Despite how over he was, he held in his mind that he was superior to other. He wasn't liked in the lockerroom because he was unaware of how much lockerroom respect was. He also let money get to far to his head. Maybe he was right or maybe he was wrong, a person makes out how they want themselves to be when it comes to a job, and he did what he felt was right and got the back hand of it.

[Joe Galt]

What`s funny about all of this is that he made a lot of money in wrestling, walked away with money, and still has his health, by being the way he is/was. Nothing went wrong for the guy. In my opinion, he did most everything right in the business. Shrewd and a jerk? Yes, but he is a walking example that it worked out well being the way he was. The only thing I don`t like is him being a jerk to a bunch of people.

[Trent Valentine]

Jan 3, 2011 13:05:10 GMT -5 johnnyk9 said:

Despite how over he was, he held in his mind that he was superior to other. He wasn't liked in the lockerroom because he was unaware of how much lockerroom respect was. He also let money get to far to his head. Maybe he was right or maybe he was wrong, a person makes out how they want themselves to be when it comes to a job, and he did what he felt was right and got the back hand of it.

This. Thats the type of people that I can't stand in wrestling. Guys who walk around thinking the whole world is supposed to roll over and hand them whatever they want on a silver platter. Warrior let fame and money go to his head so much it turned him into an asshole. Thats why he has the reputation he has now, because he thinks he's above all the rest.

[Stu]

I'm still trying to understand why the hell he legally changed his name to Warrior.

[Zen411]

Warrior did a lot of crappy things that a champion doesn't do. He tried to get Vince to pay him more money for SummerSlam and threatened to no show if he didnt get it. He was fired for a while and returned at WM8. I think the fans were still with him and I think WWE was still behind him. They were going to do a Warrior vs Sid feud after WM8 but it didnt happen when Sid left. The Shango feud was a joke and after a failed program with Nailz. I think he got ticked off when he didnt win the title at SummerSlam and it eventually ended up on Bret Hart. He left before the Ultimate Maniacs match and that was the final straw.

When he came back at WM12, it was a joke. His match with HHH was one sided and they threw him into pointless feuds with Goldust and Lawler instead of the title hunt which diminished his credibility. He was gone after no-showing some events and quit. Don't forget the Warrior comic book and other crap.

The OWN bit in WCW was laughable.

[Son of a Pregnant Dog]

Jan 3, 2011 14:05:38 GMT -5 Stu said:

I'm still trying to understand why the hell he legally changed his name to Warrior.

I presume so he could have the legal right to bill himself as the name 'Warrior'?

[foreveryoung]

Well let see.. You beat the biggest star and name in the history of the business on the biggest stage in the history of the business.. Meanwhile your employer has no thought put into you opponents afterwards other then a guy you already beat... WHERE COULD THERE be to go from there?

After you are the only person to ever beat a prime Hulk Hogan on the biggest stage there is, there is nowhere to go but down truth be told. Obviously you aren't going to garner more interest by beating Rick Rude for a 2nd time, or beating Dibiase. After beating Hogan at WM there is nowhere to go.

Really its the same thing with Goldberg. There isn't much any place to go but down after you Beat Hogan for the strap. Not to say Warrior didn't have his issues, but the company didn't really have any thought put into Warrior after he beat Hogan...


And theres two sides to every story. Yes Warrior held Vince up... according to Vince, but Warrior also said it was regarding back pay that Vince owned him. So who knows.

If Warrior was so bad, why did Vince keep bringing him back?

[Joe Galt]

Also, keep in mind that he knew how dirty the business was, and played the game(not HHH) against the promoters.

[foreveryoung]

Jan 3, 2011 15:03:43 GMT -5 Joe Galt said:

Also, keep in mind that he knew how dirty the business was, and played the game(not HHH) against the promoters.

I agree... And in that way Warrior was smart. Promoters and bosses in every aspect of business, have done their fair share of questionable dirty business tactics by taking advantage and screwing over their underlings.

Ive always felt that may be a bit of jealousy there for warrior in ALL ASPECTS from the talent to management. He got what was his, he used management and got his money. Im sure others feel resentment from that. Lets not make it seem Management doesn't use talent to get money. Warrior just reversed the roles. Every business is cut throat.


Warrior may have sounded like an idiot from time to time but he wasn't an idiot. He got his money, and got out what he put into wrestling.. While other guys gave it their all and didn't get back what they put in.

I'll always believe there was no doubt jealousy towards the Warrior.. Jealousy is a funny thing.. He came along and in only a few years, was a millionaire, while other guys came along, kissed but, were around for years, and NEVER got the push, the money, the fame that Warrior got.

[Trent Valentine]

Jan 3, 2011 15:19:41 GMT -5 foreveryoung said:

Jan 3, 2011 15:03:43 GMT -5 Joe Galt said:

Also, keep in mind that he knew how dirty the business was, and played the game(not HHH) against the promoters.

I agree... And in that way Warrior was smart. Promoters and bosses in every aspect of business, have done their fair share of questionable dirty business tactics by taking advantage and screwing over their underlings.

Ive always felt that may be a bit of jealousy there for warrior in ALL ASPECTS from the talent to management. He got what was his, he used management and got his money. Im sure others feel resentment from that. Lets not make it seem Management doesn't use talent to get money. Warrior just reversed the roles. Every business is cut throat.


Warrior may have sounded like an idiot from time to time but he wasn't an idiot. He got his money, and got out what he put into wrestling.. While other guys gave it their all and didn't get back what they put in.

I'll always believe there was no doubt jealousy towards the Warrior.. Jealousy is a funny thing.. He came along and in only a few years, was a millionaire, while other guys came along, kissed but, were around for years, and NEVER got the push, the money, the fame that Warrior got.

Well, there was that story about Rick Rude leaving WWF because he was pissed off that his paycheck from Summerslam 1990 against Warrior was smaller than his. After he lost to Warrior, they decided to feud him with Big Boss Man where he started making disparaging remarks about his Mother. I think he was pissed that his check wasn't only meager compared to Warrior's, but they were putting him in a pointless mid card feud with Boss Man instead of continuing the one with Warrior. To explain his leave, Jack Tunney "suspended" Rude for his comments and he never came back until 97.

["Playboy" Don Douglas]

Jan 3, 2011 15:00:22 GMT -5 foreveryoung said:

If Warrior was so bad, why did Vince keep bringing him back?

Vince would bring back Nailz, who choked him, if he thought it would make money.

[foreveryoung]

Jan 3, 2011 16:11:50 GMT -5 Trent Valentine said:

Jan 3, 2011 15:19:41 GMT -5 foreveryoung said:

I agree... And in that way Warrior was smart. Promoters and bosses in every aspect of business, have done their fair share of questionable dirty business tactics by taking advantage and screwing over their underlings.

Ive always felt that may be a bit of jealousy there for warrior in ALL ASPECTS from the talent to management. He got what was his, he used management and got his money. Im sure others feel resentment from that. Lets not make it seem Management doesn't use talent to get money. Warrior just reversed the roles. Every business is cut throat.


Warrior may have sounded like an idiot from time to time but he wasn't an idiot. He got his money, and got out what he put into wrestling.. While other guys gave it their all and didn't get back what they put in.

I'll always believe there was no doubt jealousy towards the Warrior.. Jealousy is a funny thing.. He came along and in only a few years, was a millionaire, while other guys came along, kissed but, were around for years, and NEVER got the push, the money, the fame that Warrior got.

Well, there was that story about Rick Rude leaving WWF because he was pissed off that his paycheck from Summerslam 1990 against Warrior was smaller than his. After he lost to Warrior, they decided to feud him with Big Boss Man where he started making disparaging remarks about his Mother. I think he was pissed that his check wasn't only meager compared to Warrior's, but they were putting him in a pointless mid card feud with Boss Man instead of continuing the one with Warrior. To explain his leave, Jack Tunney "suspended" Rude for his comments and he never came back until 97.

Oh I thought it was Hennan and Perfect making disaparing remarks about Bossman's mother

[FrankGotch]

From my point of view it never went wrong. Warrior came into he business, and created a character that was a massive hit with the fans. He rose to the top quickly, made a ton of money and invested it wisely. People get mad because he didn't love the business. However I'd say that worked to his advantage because, unlike most guys who just wanted to be there Warrior refused to take crap from promoters, or put up with the childish behind the scenes locker room politics. Really its not that hard to see who things really went wrong for. Just look at where the majority of big name wrestlers from Warriors era are today. Most are either dead, crippled or suffering lasting health problems, or still bumping around trying to wrestle because they can't afford to retire.

[Trent Valentine]

Jan 3, 2011 16:34:22 GMT -5 foreveryoung said:

Jan 3, 2011 16:11:50 GMT -5 Trent Valentine said:

Well, there was that story about Rick Rude leaving WWF because he was pissed off that his paycheck from Summerslam 1990 against Warrior was smaller than his. After he lost to Warrior, they decided to feud him with Big Boss Man where he started making disparaging remarks about his Mother. I think he was pissed that his check wasn't only meager compared to Warrior's, but they were putting him in a pointless mid card feud with Boss Man instead of continuing the one with Warrior. To explain his leave, Jack Tunney "suspended" Rude for his comments and he never came back until 97.

Oh I thought it was Hennan and Perfect making disaparing remarks about Bossman's mother

Nah, it was Rude. though I'm sure after Rude left, Henning picked up where he left off, disrespecting Boss Man's Mother, they did feud a few times over the Intercontinental Title.